Profile
Instructor Matthew Robbins
Other than some limited experience I had gained from Judo when I was younger, I had no real interest in martial arts. This was until I was around 16, and BBC2 had a "Kung Fu Night". One of the films they screened, "The Prodigal Son", changed this view. In The Prodigal Son, Lam Ching Ying, a man of slight build, used Wing Chun to better a ruthless opponent who was stronger, taller and highly proficient in a very aggressive style of Kung Fu. Lam got the upper hand by fighting at close quarters, using effective footwork and devastating speed and directness of approach to dominate and control. It was after seeing this film that I began to look for Wing Chun Kung Fu classes in the area.
I was, however, unable to find a Wing Chun class with which I was happy until 1997, when I started at the University of Essex as an Undergraduate student. I knew as soon as I attended a University Wing Chun demonstration, led by Master Mark Clark, that Traditional Wing Chun was was the martial art for me, and that I would be a long-term student. I was soon attending more and more lessons, under the tuition of both Master Mark Clark and Master Frank Roach.
In 1999, I became the President of the University of Essex Kung Fu Club and began to teach one lesson a week at the University. In 2002, I became an Instructor (8th Grade), and opened a class at the Ipswich Buddhist Centre in 2003. I have taught at the Buddhist Centre ever since, and am continuing to train with the E.T.W.C.K.F.A.
I am currently a 9th Grade student.
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